Pierzynski comes with winning reputation

Winning reputation

Ron Jenkins/Fort Worth Star-Telegram

The former teammates of new Texas Rangers catcher A.J. Pierzynski, pictured, said he commands internal respect with his work ethic. Pierzynski has started at least 110 games in each of the past 11 seasons. It takes a catastrophe to get him out of the lineup.

GLENDALE, ARIZ. Chicago White Sox left-hander John Danks has truly had only one catcher in his six-year major league career.

Now, that catcher is gone, off to the Rangers. As Danks admitted, he will miss A.J. Pierzynski and his headstrong ways.

“You’re not out there alone when A.J. is behind the plate,” said Danks, the Rangers’ first-round draft choice in 2003. “He’s out there with you every step of the way. It’s real easy to trust A.J. because of his track record.

“You can say what you want about A.J. Sure, he has a reputation. But when it comes down to game time, he’s the guy you want out there with you. The Rangers got a winner in A.J.”

The “A.J. is a winner” line came up in every conversation with White Sox players and pitching coach Don Cooper on Wednesday. Pierzynski will do whatever he can to win, they said. He will take out a fielder with a hard slide, throw up a brick wall at the plate and harangue nonstop.

All-star right-hander Jake Peavy worked together with Pierzynski for nearly four seasons. At times, they bumped heads over how to go after hitters. That can happen when two determined men work toward a common goal.

Peavy knows how it will be if he faces the Rangers this season. Pierzynski will start screaming at him from the first pitch.

“The biggest thing I admire about A.J is that nobody wants to win worse than A.J.,” Peavy said. “He’s not real fond of the opposition, and I dig that. A.J. has that passion and desire to win. You can see that fire burning in him.

“People say he’s this and that; he gets voted most hated. But you want him on your team, because he is a winner. He’s going to be missed here, and he’s going to bring a lot to that Rangers team with his desire to win. He’ll give that team an edge.”

Pierzynski is among the small group of players whom winning seems to follow.

When Pierzynski reached the majors full time with Minnesota in 2001, the Twins had had eight consecutive losing seasons. They won 85 games in Pierzysnki’s first season as the starter and won the American League Central in each of the next three seasons.

The Twins traded Pierzynski to San Francisco, for a package that included Rangers closer Joe Nathan. The Giants went 91-71 with Pierzynski but missed the playoffs by one game.

He went to the White Sox in 2005, and they won the World Series for the first time since 1917. The White Sox won the division again in 2008 and were a strong contender in two of the past three seasons. During Pierzynski’s time with the club, the White Sox were a .533 team (527-462) in his starts and a .500 team (154-154) in all other games.

“He was a big part of the success we’ve had here,” Cooper said. “He did a fantastic job over the years with the pitchers.

“We spent a lot of time together, talking about whatever. There may have been some times when we wanted to strangle each other, but at the end of the conversation, we always realized where we were going.”

Pierzynski’s former teammates said he commands internal respect with his work ethic. Pierzynski has started at least 110 games in each of the past 11 seasons. It takes a catastrophe to get him out of the lineup.

Players notice that. The smart ones follow the lead.

“To catch as many games as he does and to show up and do all the work, those are the things that rub off on people,” first baseman Paul Konerko said. “A.J. is a fierce competitor. He’s not out there to make friends. He’s out there to win the game. That’s a great thing for a team to have.”

That edge helped the White Sox win a World Series. The Rangers have their chance now.